Parents trump movie ratings when determining if film is OK for child

Thursday

Feb 27, 2014 at 3:45 PM

Knowing when your child is ready to watch a movie such as "Cannibal Holocaust" or "The Devil's Rejects" is a fairly easy task. You let them turn 18, go off into the world and allow them make that decision on their own.

When it comes to grayer areas, I would venture to say it's more about who the child is than what the movie is about.

Take for instance my youngest child, Trevor. He's 13 now and could definitely be considered a comic geek. That is, he is into all the Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other comic publications, which of course means he's also into the movies.

Although he has loved this form of entertainment ever since I can remember, when he was little, there were some comic-themed movies that scared him, like "Hulk" for instance, which came out when he was just 2 years old.

Then there's my son Trent, 16, who unlike Trevor isn't able to gauge his emotions as readily and will watch just about anything put in front of him.

I often have to pay closer attention to what Trent is viewing than I do Trevor.

Trent will hop on Netflix and watch "Reservoir Dogs" without batting an eyelash and while he may think it's no big deal, such violent films can desensitize youth or cause emotional disturbances without them even realizing it.

Trevor on the other hand would probably walk out of the room during such graphic scenes or have the common sense to turn it off if it disturbed him.

If your children are younger, it's probably best to look at the big picture when trying to determine whether or not he or she is ready for a film.

And by big picture, I mean take into consideration several aspects such as not only the child's age, but also the movie rating, other parents' advice and whether or not your child has nightmares or is easily frightened.

While watching movies like "Finding Nemo" might be OK for one 3-year-old, the opening scene might traumatize others.

Needless to say, it's not for every toddler. In fact, the scene is probably traumatic to some adults.

That's why it's up to a parent as to whether or not their child is ready to watch a film, play a video game or even ride a bike.

Children don't fit a mold.

I would also agree that if your child has a friend staying over, never assume a movie is OK for the other child merely because you allow your child to watch it. Always consult with a parent or guardian first.

While the Motion Picture Association of America can take into consideration facts about content within a film paired with social status quos for children toddlers to age 18, what it can't do is know each and every child personally that will come to the theater to see it.

That being said, a parent should use the MPAA ratings more as a guide and then take into consideration a child's likes and dislikes, fears and personality traits combined with any moral, religious or ethical restraints.

That's not to say that viewing movies that go against your own belief system is always a bad thing. It can serve as a wonderful teaching device, so long as you take the time to discuss it with your child afterward.

And with online commentary, movie critics and websites such as www.commonsensemedia.org,, it's not always necessary to watch it first or even with them.

So the next time family movie night comes around, rest easy knowing that you're making the best choice for your family with the information at hand.

For more information about the MPAA ratings and what each one means, go to www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means.